Latin American fruit exports continue to be a key pillar in international trade, with markets such as the United States, Europe, and Asia demanding quality products.
Manuel José Alcaino, president of Decofrut, underlines the importance of maintaining quality standards at all stages of the process. "Quality includes things that don't change over time, like size and color. Condition, on the other hand, is variable and depends on factors such as dehydration, ripeness, or rotting, which is why it is essential to monitor the evolution of these aspects," Alcaino stated.
In the United States, Decofrut has offices in California, Texas, Florida, and Philadelphia, where it ensures that each order an importer loads (of grapes, apples, blueberries, kiwis, etc.) meets the standards demanded by its buyers or retail chains, through rigorous quality control and the use of software that is already incorporating artificial intelligence. "This technology helps importers manage their inventories and select the right pallets for each client, minimizing errors and ensuring that the right fruit is sent to the right customer in each order," stated Manuel José Alcaino.
Decofrut has a consolidated presence in the United States and Europe, with offices in countries such as France, the Netherlands, Italy, Russia, and Spain. "The demand for grapes and blueberries has grown significantly in recent years, which is why we have adapted to customer demands and market fluctuations. We have been increasing our participation in these markets thanks to the confidence that customers place in our inventory management and the consistency of our service," Alcaino said.
The Asian market has also shown remarkable growth, with operations in China, Korea, and Taiwan. "Quality is paramount in these markets, as consumers are looking for premium products. Decofrut has been able to take advantage of this demand thanks to its focus on the precise fruit selection and its ability to offer products in the best possible conditions," Alcaino said.
One of Decofrut's greatest achievements has been implementing state-of-the-art technology to ensure that each pallet loaded in an order meets the specific requirements of that customer. "We've developed software that efficiently assigns a quality rating to each pallet and transmits this information to importers without human intervention so that they can access the full report from their own ERP when selecting the pallets for each order," Alcaino said. "This technology improves operational efficiency, minimizing the risk of rejections, which is crucial in an industry where the best results are obtained by the importer who makes the fewest mistakes," he added.
Alcaino is optimistic about the future. "Our customers' growth and the constant incorporation of new customers has allowed us to consolidate our position as the leading company in Quality Control, currently controlling around 300 million boxes a year," he said. "We have been able to differentiate ourselves in the market thanks to the strength and experience of our teams in each office, our enormous capacity to recruit and train inspectors, and our focus on technological innovation in reporting and database management."
For more information:
Manuel José Alcaino (president)
Decofrut
Tel: +56 (2) 2658-7474
Email: [email protected]
www.decofrut.com